Inspired by Faith & Love Foothill Bible Church, Pastor Nate Stevens. Pastor s Corner. The Lifeline March, 2017

Transcription

1 Inspired by Faith & Love Foothill Bible Church, Pastor Nate Stevens The Lifeline Pastor s Corner I enjoyed spirit week at my high school just like every other kid does across America. Our rival was Lawrenceville, a grotesque place just across the New Jersey state line, so we had more than the typical rival history between us. Their school colors were red and white; ours blue and grey. New Jersey was a place packed with people, most of whom simply got lost in their desperate attempt to flee the state. It was the home of the New Jersey Devils a hockey organization that matched its name (also with red and white jerseys). Lawrenceville had admitted girls years ago, and we were still all boys. This New Jersey spawn matched its state with an overblown campus and student body in the thousands and it was about to descend on our rural hilltop retreat, home to a mere 400 boys. Friday night finally arrived, and as we, the audacious underdogs, prepared to compete on the athletic field, we lit the bonfire and stripped to our underwear in a scene part Lord of the Flies, part barbarian horde, part highland charge. We painted ourselves in school colors and chanted with a fierceness of our future years, What do we eat? Red Meat! How do we eat it? Raw! Spirit week! We call such events spirit week because they rightly capture the idea of embodying the spirit, identity, and the resulting pride. There was not an item of red to be found on any of my classmates that weekend we were blue and grey all the way (actually, we really never wore red at all). And there was a common shared identity among us. We all studied at the same library, worried under the same tough teachers, and goofed off under the same easy ones. We ate the same food, sat in the same classes, played on the same teams, walked among the same buildings, and were products of the same history. Part of this shared identity was an almost unspoken code of behavior, a code of ethics. It wasn t what you would call a biblical morality, but it was a code all the same. And that weekend, we were, each one, an individual embodiment and representative of what it meant to be a member of The Hill School. When the Bible talks about walking by the Holy Spirit, or being led by the Holy Spirit, there are some striking similarities and contrasts. First, the similarities: The Holy Spirit resides in every person who has believed in Jesus for eternal life. That

2 person is part of something far greater than any other family or organization the Bible simply calls it the Church. Each believer is to be an individual embodiment and representative of the Holy Spirit that is, we are to behave according to His ethic (the Holy Spirit is a He not an It ). We are to be submitted not only to the individual leading of the Holy Spirit, but also to the bigger organization that the Holy Spirit has encompassed the Church. We are also pitted in fierce and brutal battle against a foe set on our destruction as Spirit-indwelt ones. But there are also some awesome differences. I never made varsity soccer, so my game didn t really matter. The real game took place on the field in the center of campus, and I was off in the practice fields. I remember feeling less than and out of place I really wasn t going to be able to do much for my school. I chanted, but not with the same vigor that some did. I held back. I wasn t a headliner of the school; there were more impressive boys for the spotlight. I felt, under my blue and grey exterior, that I was lacking the embodiment of The Hill School, and, with all that was going on in my life, I probably was. The Holy Spirit works on a different principle. He lives in the interior; His work is in the interior, and the exterior is simply the symptom of what He has accomplished inside. The fears that we don t have what it takes, that we are insufficient for the task, and that we are less than the headliners all dissipate when we come to grips with the awesome reality that God (the One who created the universe) resides in us and He is sufficient for all. He has what it takes He is The headliner. This is walking by the Spirit. It is handing over the reigns, including our fears, hungers, and passions to God. It is resting in Him to provide, to sustain, and to validate us, as we follow Him, or ride the Wind as one of my mentors put it. And He does. He speaks to us not audibly, but through His Word as He points out a verse and says, This is for you, dwell on it. He speaks through other believers as they encourage or reprove us, and He says, Take this to heart. He speaks to us through life circumstances, as He reveals a sunrise as not just another day, but as a beautiful gift from the good and loving hands of our Father. He is a person, and He expects us to know His voice and enjoy communion with Him. Thankfully, this does not involve bonfires and underwear (we are not that kind of church), and its duration is a lifetime, not a week. Foothill Lifeline Team Randy Redfield, Elder Dion Dietz, Courtney Hengst, Becky Davis, Pat Justice, Levi Routh and Teddi Johnson

3 From the Board Monthly News Young Families Dinner Monte Mello FBC held its Young Families dinner Saturday, February 18th. Twenty-two young adults attended. The event was held at FBCE, and childcare was provided at Dion and Emmett Dietz's home. The church was set in a formal setting and was decorated beautifully. The evening started out with fellowship and an appetizer table. Randy Redfield opened with prayer and then the couples took part in the Foothill Bible Church's version of the Newlywed Game. A three-course dinner was served with beef tenderloin as the main course. Frank Ainley, Sr. was our guest speaker, and he shared how God has been a part of his life through sixty years of marriage. We closed with a thankful prayer for these young families and God's presence that evening. A big thank you to Susan Mello, Karen and Randy Redfield, and Maria Partin for all their work to make this a successful event. We thank God for His presence! At the Dietz's home, the children enjoyed pizza, bubbles, trampoline, a movie, and an enthusiastic dance party. We were blessed with good weather, so the children spent most of the evening outdoors. Another big thank you to Dion and Emmett along with their two helpers, Delaney Dietz and Hannah Jobe. We are well into the planning of a second Young Families event. On June 10th, we will be having a BBQ at FBCE for the whole family. The adults will be encouraged to invite other young families to attend.

4 New Sunday Morning Schedule The new Sunday morning schedule has been in effect since January 15th and has been well received. Folks seems to be enjoying the focus on the children at the beginning of the worship service with Pastor Nate's "Munchkin Moment" and children's song(s). What a joy it is to see all of our young Foothill kids gathered at Pastor Nate's feet listening to a message prepared especially for them! The children are also blessed to have a wonderful team of teachers during their very own Children's Church time where they are taught Bible-centered lessons. Needless to say, the Youth Committee is very grateful to those willing to serve in this important role! The adult portion of the worship service continues with inspirational songs of praise and God-centered, life-changing teaching from Pastor Nate! property to our kitchen, dining area, and existing sanctuary may be the ideal location for a building as God blesses us with a growing ministry. The Congregation voted to move forward with this purchase at a business meeting February 12. Praise God for His leadership and provisions for FBCE! FBC Board Officers Chair: Randy Redfield Vice Chair: James Jordan Treasurer: Emmett Deitz Secretary: Tom Redemer Committee Assignments Adult Ministries: Joe Hallmeyer Care and Fellowship: Frank Ainley Elder Board Chair: Randy Redfield Missions and Outreach: Monte Mello Stewardship: Emmett Deitz Worship: Tom Redemer Youth: James Jordan Being at Foothill Bible Church at 10 A.M. on Sunday mornings is definitely the place to be! An Addition to FBCE's Campus Foothill Bible Church's campus is growing! Yes, the 3.75 acres just north of the kitchen area is being negotiated with Christians in Action. If the negotiations are successful, this new parcel will offer many opportunities for Foothill... including the possibility of a site for a future building project. The proximity of this FINANCIALS December 21 - January 20 Giving: $38,752 Budgeted: $16,250 Year-to-date: $65,000 Expenses: $13,536 YTD expenses: $48,510

5 Foothill Youth Children s Church Children s Church is going well. It s divided into three age groups with super teachers and helpers at each level. Working in the nursery are Emily Henderson, Caysie Swift, Kim Needham, Kris Jack, Becky and Roxanne Davis, Audra Shipley, and Cissy Jordan. They work in teams of two each week. The next level is three-year olds through Kindergarten, and those teachers and helpers are Mary Clarke, Nancy Phillips, Brian and Kari Horton, Karen Redfield, Sandy Maloy, Martha Erwin and Nancy Bartlett. Dana and Hannah Jobe will be starting up shortly and we welcome them to the mix. Finally, working with the first through third graders are Shawn Phillips, Terry Thompson, Susan Mello, and James Jordan. Courtney Hengst, Paige Ainley, and Jacob Naylor will be filling in on those months with 5 weeks. Children s Church is designed for children up to fifth grade, but right now FBC s fourth and fifth graders enjoy listening to Pastor Nate! It is not too late to talk to Karen Redfield or James Jordan about helping! The curriculum and snacks are provided. The children are super cute and well behaved it s a win-win situation Awana Awana continues to grow! Several new children have joined since Christmas. The van, driven by Martha Erwin, is full every week with happy Awana kids. Martha deserves a medal, and a pair of ear plugs, for her faithfulness and love! There s a lot of fun during game time too! Often, it s hard to know who s enjoying it the most (and making the most noise) the older Awana group or Pastor Nate and Brian Horton! After music, lessons, games, scripture study, and snack, 7:30 rolls around pretty quickly and another week is done! This, too, is an awesome place to volunteer so keep that in mind for next year! If interested, please see Summer Stevens. A Note from the Nursery To make the nursery function well, there are three things needed from parents: a diaper bag labeled with the child s name, diapers (if necessary), and a sippy cup! Second, please make sure a cell number is on the nursery attendance sheet so, if necessary, the nursery helpers can text the parent during the service. Last, as a courtesy to the nursery volunteers, children need to be picked up within five minutes of the ending of the worship service. That way everyone, helpers and parents alike, can return to the sanctuary for fellowship and one last cup of coffee. Thank you so much for your help. If you have any questions, please contact James Jordan or Karen Redfield. EPIC Wednesdays Munchkin Moment "EPIC is rolling along beautifully! Dedicated workers faithfully minister to these teens kids weekly. February, the month of love, focused on relationships and God's design for marriage. Kids

6 heard loving, but direct teaching from God's word. Their eyes were opened up to God's design for intimate relationships and the beauty of marriage. This teaching was very new to these kids, but they were enthusiastic listeners. Small groups saw rich discussions with kids asking amazing questions. We ended our month with a guest speaker, Cheryl Braden, from the Care Pregnancy Center who shared about STDs, statistics and resources for young people in unexpected situations. Praise God for these precious times with young people. We look forward to the warmer weather of Spring, outside games, and a weekend activity or two!" James Jordan having a little fun with the Munchkins HARTLAND SUMMER CAMP SIGN-UPS ARE HAPPENING NOW! If you are a camper, or have a camper in the family: bring Mrs. Davis a $50 deposit by WED., MARCH 15TH to save your spot! The $50 deposit is nonrefundable. The total cost for camp is $421. Scholarships are available for the remaining amount ($371). To qualify for a scholarship, you must: attend Wed. nights regularly participate at a FBC Work Day (date TBD) write a letter of thanks to your sponsoring families CAMP DATES Jr. High (students NOW in 6th-8th grades) - July 9-14, 2017 High School (students NOW in 9-12 grades) - July 16-21, 2017 Questions? Text Mrs. Davis HELP!!! COUNSELORS NEEDED! Counselors will be needed for both camps! Students will not be able to attend camp unless we have volunteers to counsel. Help make an eternal difference in the lives of our youth. Please see Becky Davis if you are interested!

7 Getting to Know our Church Family Foothill Family Getting to know Vince and Marsha Ingrao Marsha is this year s Woodlake Woman of the Year! Pictured above (left to right): Marsha and our Woodlake Tiger, Marsha at Brighton Bath Houses in Australia, and Vince and Marsha. Vince and Marsha became FBC members a few months ago, but it s tough tracking them down for an interview, especially when Marsha s jetting off to the Land Down Under, and Vince is a low-profile kind of guy! Here s the scoop: Vince grew up in Jamestown, NY and Burbank, CA. He graduated from Burbank High School in 1964, then attended Florida State University, Valley College in Northridge, and the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. He is currently working as a realtor. In his spare time, Vince enjoys playing poker, landscaping, and remodeling the house. (Their new kitchen is amazing!) His three favorite movies are Journey to the Center of the Earth (the original), Forrest Gump, and Westside Story. His favorite books are Brief History of Time, and the Bible. Marsha grew up in Indianapolis, IN and Portland, OR. She attended Madison High School in Portland, graduating in She s a highly-educated gal! She s attended Portland State University, Lane Community College, Nazarene Bible College, California State University, Fresno, Fresno Pacific University, then back to California State University, Fresno, earning her AA Lane Community College, Layman s Certificate NBC, BA CSUF, MA FPU, and Admin. Credential CSUF. She is a retired consultant/teacher, and is currently a writer, blogger, marketing whiz, and community service volunteer. She put together the book Images of America: Woodlake, which chronicles the history of our little town! She is involved in many community events, many of them through her membership in the Woodlake Kiwanis Club.

8 When asked, What do you like to do in your spare time? Marsha just replied, Hahaha! Her three favorite movies are The Help, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Butler. Her favorite books: Fault in our Stars by John Green, On Writing, a Memoir of the Craft by Steven King, andteam of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. The couple met when Marsha bought a computer from Vince at Circuit City in Visalia, and married in Vince has a son, Jason, who is 47. Jason works for the California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He has a teaching credential and graduated from U.C. Berkeley. He was married for several years with no children. During that time, he patented an invention, a machine to relieve stress particularly for those who have limited mobility or veterans who suffer from depression and limited mobility. On March 3 rd, Woodlake will hold its 55 th Annual Awards Dinner, where Marsha will receive Woman of the Year! Congratulations, Marsha! OTHER LOCAL AWARDS While we are on the subject of Woodlake Awards our very own Frank Ainley will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Will Theis is a Youth of the Year award winner! Congratulations, Mr. Ainley and Will! FOOTHILL BIBLE CHURCH DIRECTORY The FBC church directory was completed and turned in to Lifetouch in mid-january! We are awaiting the proof from the company and then, once approved, we expect shipment of the directories within a month. So a spring arrival is coming! Thank you for your patience with this project. It is full of the latest pictures of our FBC family and will hopefully be used as a wonderful resource to keep us connected! Stay tuned Dear Foothill Bible Church, Thank you so much for the delicious meal you provided for our family after Mother's service. Your kindness has blessed us greatly! Sincerely, Kathleen Berry for the Family of Alice Hays

9 You re in our Prayers PRAYERS Barbara Hallmeyer Family - prayer for comfort as they say goodbye to Barbara's mom Pam Whiteside - prayer for continued healing as she recovers from a stroke Judy Mills - prayer for continued healing and comfort as she goes through chemo and radiation. Prayer for Charlie also JJ Jordan - prayer for guidance as he looks at placing stints in his heart continued prayer for: Bill Fox Leroy Maloy Ashley Routh 2 nd - Frank Ainley Sr. 3 rd - Kendall Needham & Alexander Stevens 7 th - Brian Horton & Jean Bell 10 th - Dylan Deitz 11 th - Vicki Winterton 14 th - James Jordan 17 th - Steve Williams 18 th - Frank Ainley Jr. & Jacob Naylor 20 th - Jane Justice, Cindy Fisher, Ken McKee & Isaiah Swift 22 nd - Jim Erwin 29 th - Emma Esque 30 th - Jesse Decker & Aimii Redemer 31 st - Addison Redemer MARCH ANNIVERSARIES 10 TH Nate and Summer Stevens 19 TH - Matt & Shilene Andriese 23 RD - Frank & Christina Arnold 29 TH - Tom and Aimii Redemer WOMEN S COFFEE Great news, Ladies! We have two coffees (which of course include dinner and dessert!) booked for this year. Save Thursday, April 6 th at 6:00 p.m. for a coffee at the brand-new home of Sandy Maskal in Elderdwood! Husband Kenn has built this entire home with unbelievable details. Last time Sandy hosted, they were still building the kitchen. Now it's done and gorgeous. They moved last November... come see their lovely home and with all this rain, April will be a stunning month in Elderwood! (37359 Millwood Drive~ or ) Also, put Thursday, October 5 th on your calendar for a Ladies Coffee at Ronell Ainley's home. Another amazing evening is guaranteed... great fellowship, food and encouragement! Let Courtney know if you have something you'd like to share as a devotional...

10 FOOTHILL BIBLE CHURCH P.O. Box 248 Elderwood, CA Worship Service: 10:00 A.M. with Children s Church (5 th grade & below) THE LIFELINE MARCH 2017 ISSUE